According to BEPAnews, pushing for the construction of more net-zero energy buildings and homes may be the key to greatly decreasing the United States’ overall energy consumption. The Zero and Net-Zero Energy Buildings + Homes report by Building Design+Construction, published by Illinois-based SGC Horizon L.L.C., suggests that further developing current net-zero energy building designs and harnessing support from concerned government agencies will help address the country’s overall energy consumption.
A net-zero energy building is a building with completely reduced operational energy needs. It is highly energy efficient with no adverse energy or environmental impact. A building may also achieve net-zero energy status by purchasing renewable energy to offset its emissions.
The largest completed net-zero energy building in the United States, the Research Support Facility at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Golden, Colorado, applied energy conservation level-setting. As per definition, net-zero energy buildings incorporate the use of renewable energy into the project from the start. Solar harvesting, geothermal energy, and wind power were cited by the report as the three on-site power generation methods most used by net-zero energy buildings.
The site of the construction can also be a factor in incorporating renewable energy use into a net-zero energy building. The government has set a goal for net-zero energy use for all commercial buildings by 2030. Furthermore, it specifies a net-zero energy target of 50 percent of commercial buildings by 2040 and a net-zero standard of 100 percent for new and existing commercial buildings by 2050.